Grade level: 1-6
Equipment: None
Game Description: This game is a huge hit. It is very similar to a British Bulldog-type game, however, Shark Attack brings players to the beach for change of scenery. The idea is for the swimmers to not get bit (tagged) by the sharks in the middle. Read More →
Category: No Equipment!
Mousetrap!
Grade level: K-5
Equipment: None
Game Description: A super easy, super fun game for the earlier-aged students. In mousetrap, the mice try to steal the cheese from the middle of the circle, and return it to their home outside of the circle. But they must be careful to time it just right, or else the mousetrap will close in and trap them! Good for laughs and good for exercise. Read More →
CandyCane Tag
Grade level: K-4
Equipment: None
Game Description: In Candy cane tag, players who are tagged must turn their body into a candy cane shape. To get back in the game, a player who isn’t tagged must run under the loop of the candy cane, or peel the wrapper off of it – your choice. Just a simple Christmas tag game idea to get students moving while at the same time promoting some Christmas cheer.
The Question Game
Grade level: 3-8
Equipment: None
Game Description: Do you have brown hair? Do you have an older brother? Do you have a birthday in January? These types of questions can be asked in ‘The Question Game’, where students attempt to make it across to the other side without getting tagged. Players can only run if the question pertains to them. As more and more players get tagged, more and more become the tagger in the middle and it gets more difficult for the runners. Try it out and come up with your own questions. Read More →
Hourglass Relay
Grade level: 3-8
Equipment: None
Game Description: Hourglass Relay is a continuous running and cardio-building activity that gets students moving in the shape of an hourglass. Depending on the group, you can adjust speed of the activity – slow, medium, fast. With a sports team, it might be a great sprinting activity. With a physical education class, it might be a great jogging activity or student choice for speed. Simple yet effective. Read More →
ABC Tag
Grade level: 1-3
Equipment: None
Game Description: One of the different versions of ABC tag, this one lets students think of words that start with a certain letter, and when they get tagged, they must say the word and/or spell the word out loud before they can get back into the game. Another popular version of ABC tag that you can try out as well goes something like this: students who are tagged try to turn their body into the shape of a letter. Try one or both of these versions of this game in your physical education class!
Banana Tag
Grade level: K-5
Equipment: None
Game Description: Such a simple tag game; kids go bananas, literally! As players get tagged, they must curve their bodies into the shape of a banana. Someone else will come along and ‘peel’ them so that they are free.
Man From Mars
Grade level: K-4
Equipment: None
Game Description: ‘Man from Mars can you take us to the stars?’ – Only if you’re wearing the color green! The Man from Mars tries to tag the runners who are wearing the colors he calls out. Each round he calls out a new color. Anyone tagged joins him in the middle to help. Another imaginative type of physical education game, tag-style. Read More →
Animals
Grade level: K-2
Equipment: None
Game Description: Such a simple warm-up game! Choose a theme – for example, the jungle. Then students can choose a jungle animal that they will pretend to be, perhaps a monkey or parrot, and spend a minute moving around like that animal, making the animal noises. After a minute, change the theme. For example, the arctic. Students will then choose an arctic animal like a penguin or seal and do the same thing.
Pacman
Grade level: K-5
Equipment: None
Game Description: In the Pacman physical education game, all players must stay on the lines. The Pacman will go around clapping his hands together like a giant Pacman mouth, trying to tag the other players. Once tagged, players also become a Pacman until everyone has been caught – then it’s time for a new round! Great for spatial awareness and switching directions.